North Carolina · GEOID 37171

Surry County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 71,425 · 33,747 housing units

Median household income

$55,656

State $74,272

Median home value

$177,600

State $299,282

Median gross rent

$761

State $1,245

Homeownership rate

73.4%

State 66.6%

Renter cost-burden rate

43.3%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

18.7%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

1.0%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

4.6%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

11.5%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

3.19

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Surry County	North Carolina
Population	71,425	10,730,404
Population density (per sq. mi.)	134.10	—
Median household income	$55,656	$74,272
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$72,700	—
Households	29,869	—
Average household size	2.36 people	—
Owner-occupied	73.4%	66.6%
Renter-occupied	26.6%	33.4%
Race	83.9% White · 3.8% Black	0.0% White · 0.0% Black

Source: ACS 5-year 2024 (Tables DP05, S1101, DP04, S1901) and Census Gazetteer (land area); HUD FY2026 Income Limits.

Racial composition

Surry County compared with North Carolina.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

20.4% hold a bachelor's degree or higher (state: 35.7%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1501.

Median Household Income by Tenure

Owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied household income, county and state.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25119.

Median Household Income by Age of Householder

Median household income by age group of householder.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B19049.

Median Household Income by Number of Earners

Median household income for families with each earner count.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903.

Household Size

Distribution of households by number of people.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2501.

Income by Number of Earners

Earners	Share	Median income	Attainable monthly housing cost	Attainable home
0 earners	20.2%	$34,970	$874	$99,151
1 earner	32.0%	$52,825	$1,321	$165,613
2 earners	38.2%	$93,388	$2,335	$316,602
3+ earners	9.7%	$132,935	$3,323	$463,810

Attainable monthly housing cost = 30% of gross income ÷ 12. Attainable home price assumes 30% housing budget, 30-yr mortgage at 7%, 5% down.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903; affordability formula derived.

Households

29,869

Average size: 2.36 people

Households with children

7,498

25.1% of households

Per-capita income

$32,573

Poverty rate: 15.9%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

Housing stock characteristics — tenure, type, age, size, vacancy, rents.

Tenure

73.4% owner-occupied vs. state average 66.6%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 67.6% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 7.4%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

50.2% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,979.00 yrs.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2504.

Housing size mismatch

Compares the share of housing units by bedroom count against the share of households by size — a common diagnostic of housing supply/demand alignment.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Tables B25041 (bedrooms) and S2501 (household size).

Home value distribution

Owner-occupied homes by value bracket. Median: $177,600.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Monthly Housing Costs

Distribution of monthly housing costs across all occupied units.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25104.

Number of Bedrooms

Housing units by number of bedrooms.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25041.

Median rent by bedroom

Overall median gross rent: $761.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25031.

Renters by age

Number of renter householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Owners by age

Number of owner householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Vacancy composition

All 3,878 vacant units split into Census's seven categories. Frictional vacancy (units actively on the market) reflects healthy churn. Structural vacancy (seasonal, migrant, other) sits outside the market for year-round residents — high values change how the headline vacancy rate should be read.

Vacant units by type

For sale 5.5% · For rent 10.2% · Seasonal 22.3% · Other 51.4%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

26.2% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 73.8% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

2.6%

866 units of 33,747 total

Housing units held for seasonal or recreational use.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

5.9%

1,995 units of 33,747 total

⚑ Above the 5% threshold — possible indicator of disinvestment, abandonment, or condemned stock.

Section 3

Workforce Housing Needs Assessment

Affordability, cost burden, and the housing options for households in the workforce income range.

Workforce range — ACS median household income

80% MHI$44,525

100% MHI$55,656

120% MHI$66,787

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Surry County should be able to afford a home up to roughly — (30% housing budget, default mortgage terms).

Workforce range — HUD Area Median Income

	1-person	2-person	4-person
80% AMI	$43,900	$50,150	$62,650
100% AMI	$50,890	$58,160	$72,700
120% AMI	$61,050	$69,800	$87,250

HUD FMR Area: Surry County, NC. 80% AMI uses HUD's published Section 8 Low Income Limits; 100% is HUD MFI; 120% is the standard workforce convention.

Affordability calculator

Follows the standard 30%-of-gross-income affordability rule.

Income basis Household income Interest rate % Down payment % Taxes & insurance / yr

Affordable monthly—

Affordable home price—

Renter cost burden

43.3% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (20.4% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

18.7% of homeowners spend ≥30% of income on housing. Bars show counts of cost-burdened owners by income bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25106.

Household income — owners vs renters

Distribution of household income for owner-occupied (navy) and renter-occupied (gold) households.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25118.

Section 4

Industry & Workforce Wages

Employment, average wages, and the housing each industry's typical earner can afford in Surry County.

Covered employment

25,486

Across 18 sectors

Establishments

1,987

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$49,139

Employment-weighted across sectors

Top 10 sectors by employment

Annual average employment by NAICS 2-digit sector. Counties with fewer than five covered establishments in a sector may show suppressed totals.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024.

Attainable housing by industry

Industry	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	4,158	$34,149	$96,095	−$81,505	$854
NAICS 31-33 Manufacturing NAICS 31-33	4,015	$51,999	$162,538	−$15,062	$1,300
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	3,256	$71,480	$235,053	+$57,453	$1,787
NAICS 72 Accommodation and food services NAICS 72	2,772	$19,955	$43,260	−$134,340	$499
NAICS 61 Educational services NAICS 61	1,885	$48,069	$147,910	−$29,690	$1,202
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	1,595	$43,881	$132,320	−$45,280	$1,097
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	1,556	$56,019	$177,502	−$98	$1,400
NAICS 56 Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services NAICS 56	1,124	$40,165	$118,488	−$59,112	$1,004
NAICS 62 Health care and social assistance NAICS 62	1,034	$61,964	$199,632	+$22,032	$1,549
NAICS 42 Wholesale trade NAICS 42	1,029	$59,850	$191,763	+$14,163	$1,496
NAICS 54 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 54	905	$76,533	$253,862	+$76,262	$1,913
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	888	$46,960	$143,782	−$33,818	$1,174
NAICS 52 Finance and insurance NAICS 52	397	$62,604	$202,014	+$24,414	$1,565
NAICS 55 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 55	336	$88,647	$298,955	+$121,355	$2,216
NAICS 53 Real estate and rental and leasing NAICS 53	163	$42,798	$128,289	−$49,311	$1,070
NAICS 22 Utilities NAICS 22	146	$88,446	$298,207	+$120,607	$2,211
NAICS 51 Information NAICS 51	128	$53,901	$169,618	−$7,982	$1,348
NAICS 71 Arts, entertainment, and recreation NAICS 71	99	$26,004	$65,776	−$111,824	$650

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 722 Food services and drinking places NAICS 722	2,550	$19,300	$40,822	−$136,778	$483
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	1,885	$48,069	$147,910	−$29,690	$1,202
NAICS 237 Heavy and civil engineering construction NAICS 237	1,835	$83,442	$279,580	+$101,980	$2,086
NAICS 621 Ambulatory health care services NAICS 621	1,450	$63,042	$203,644	+$26,044	$1,576
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	1,253	$39,111	$114,565	−$63,035	$978
NAICS 484 Truck transportation NAICS 484	1,203	$57,253	$182,096	+$4,496	$1,431
NAICS 561 Administrative and support services NAICS 561	1,093	$39,823	$117,215	−$60,385	$996
NAICS 455 General merchandise retailers NAICS 455	1,081	$29,265	$77,915	−$99,685	$732
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	1,032	$53,273	$167,281	−$10,319	$1,332
NAICS 622 Hospitals NAICS 622	935	$58,500	$186,737	+$9,137	$1,463
NAICS 541 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 541	905	$76,533	$253,862	+$76,262	$1,913
NAICS 332 Fabricated metal product manufacturing NAICS 332	896	$54,021	$170,065	−$7,535	$1,351
NAICS 423 Merchant wholesalers, durable goods NAICS 423	823	$62,708	$202,401	+$24,801	$1,568
NAICS 623 Nursing and residential care facilities NAICS 623	725	$39,442	$115,797	−$61,803	$986
NAICS 445 Food and beverage retailers NAICS 445	682	$20,465	$45,158	−$132,442	$512
NAICS 441 Motor vehicle and parts dealers NAICS 441	608	$49,955	$154,930	−$22,670	$1,249
NAICS 444 Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers NAICS 444	585	$41,010	$121,634	−$55,966	$1,025
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	483	$53,443	$167,913	−$9,687	$1,336
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	448	$39,584	$116,326	−$61,274	$990
NAICS 236 Construction of buildings NAICS 236	389	$63,355	$204,809	+$27,209	$1,584
NAICS 551 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 551	336	$88,647	$298,955	+$121,355	$2,216
NAICS 327 Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing NAICS 327	281	$58,380	$186,291	+$8,691	$1,460
NAICS 812 Personal and laundry services NAICS 812	268	$38,980	$114,077	−$63,523	$975
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	261	$58,075	$185,155	+$7,555	$1,452
NAICS 315 Apparel manufacturing NAICS 315	259	$44,545	$134,792	−$42,808	$1,114
NAICS 456 Health and personal care retailers NAICS 456	259	$41,419	$123,156	−$54,444	$1,035
NAICS 459 Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers NAICS 459	239	$26,144	$66,297	−$111,303	$654
NAICS 721 Accommodation NAICS 721	222	$27,478	$71,263	−$106,337	$687
NAICS 321 Wood product manufacturing NAICS 321	211	$67,298	$219,486	+$41,886	$1,682
NAICS 424 Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods NAICS 424	184	$46,881	$143,487	−$34,113	$1,172
NAICS 325 Chemical manufacturing NAICS 325	166	$38,110	$110,839	−$66,761	$953
NAICS 339 Miscellaneous manufacturing NAICS 339	163	$51,162	$159,423	−$18,177	$1,279
NAICS 458 Clothing, clothing accessories, shoe, and jewelry retailers NAICS 458	162	$21,953	$50,697	−$126,903	$549
NAICS 112 Animal production and aquaculture NAICS 112	146	$51,998	$162,535	−$15,065	$1,300
NAICS 221 Utilities NAICS 221	146	$88,446	$298,207	+$120,607	$2,211
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	132	$59,890	$191,911	+$14,311	$1,497
NAICS 312 Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing NAICS 312	129	$27,548	$71,524	−$106,076	$689
NAICS 323 Printing and related support activities NAICS 323	128	$54,801	$172,968	−$4,632	$1,370
NAICS 493 Warehousing and storage NAICS 493	125	$49,354	$152,693	−$24,907	$1,234
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	100	$61,412	$197,577	+$19,977	$1,535
NAICS 524 Insurance carriers and related activities NAICS 524	100	$55,914	$177,111	−$489	$1,398
NAICS 922 Justice, public order, and safety activities NAICS 922	97	$65,026	$211,029	+$33,429	$1,626
NAICS 449 Furniture, home furnishings, electronics, and appliance retailers NAICS 449	93	$40,524	$119,825	−$57,775	$1,013
NAICS 923 Administration of human resource programs NAICS 923	87	$66,100	$215,027	+$37,427	$1,653
NAICS 813 Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations NAICS 813	87	$43,262	$130,016	−$47,584	$1,082
NAICS 713 Amusement, gambling, and recreation industries NAICS 713	82	$26,368	$67,131	−$110,469	$659
NAICS 532 Rental and leasing services NAICS 532	82	$46,369	$141,582	−$36,018	$1,159
NAICS 488 Support activities for transportation NAICS 488	54	$57,983	$184,813	+$7,213	$1,450
NAICS 814 Private households NAICS 814	50	$33,538	$93,820	−$83,780	$838
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	48	$47,311	$145,088	−$32,512	$1,183
NAICS 513 Publishing industries NAICS 513	39	$52,719	$165,219	−$12,381	$1,318
NAICS 485 Transit and ground passenger transportation NAICS 485	37	$26,224	$66,595	−$111,005	$656
NAICS 111 Crop production NAICS 111	37	$45,835	$139,594	−$38,006	$1,146
NAICS 523 Securities, commodity contracts, and other financial investments and related activities NAICS 523	36	$114,017	$393,390	+$215,790	$2,850
NAICS 516 Broadcasting and content providers NAICS 516	32	$35,484	$101,064	−$76,536	$887
NAICS 562 Waste management and remediation services NAICS 562	32	$50,584	$157,271	−$20,329	$1,265
NAICS 519 Web search portals, libraries, archives, and other information services NAICS 519	28	$25,722	$64,727	−$112,873	$643
NAICS 517 Telecommunications NAICS 517	26	$94,770	$321,747	+$144,147	$2,369
NAICS 425 Wholesale trade agents and brokers NAICS 425	22	$61,377	$197,447	+$19,847	$1,534
NAICS 113 Forestry and logging NAICS 113	12	$39,830	$117,241	−$60,359	$996
NAICS 925 Administration of housing programs, urban planning, and community development NAICS 925	10	$51,337	$160,074	−$17,526	$1,283

Affordable home price assumes the industry's average earner uses 30% of gross income for housing, with a 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr taxes & insurance, and 0.5% PMI. Adjust the Section 3 calculator for other terms. Affordable rent is 30% of monthly gross pay.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024; ACS 5-year 2024 (median home value).

Section 5

Wages by Occupation

Selected essential-worker occupations for the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county — jobs, the 10-year change, wages, and the housing each typical earner can afford. Both jobs counts and wages are reported at the MSA / nonmetropolitan-area level (BLS does not publish OEWS at the county level), so every county inside the same area shows the same numbers. For county-accurate employment totals, see Section 4 above.

Occupational wages and affordable housing

Occupation	2025 jobs	2015–2025 change	% change	Hourly wage	Annual wage	Affordable home price	Affordable monthly rent
Fast Food and Counter Workers SOC 35-3023 · prior-year code differs	5,200	(4,910)	(49%)	$13.76	$28,610	$75,477	$715
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	7,720	1,040	16%	$14.11	$29,340	$78,194	$734
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	690	—	—	$15.07	$31,340	$85,639	$784
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	8,030	90	1%	$15.91	$33,090	$92,153	$827
Firefighters SOC 33-2011	950	200	27%	$15.93	$33,130	$92,302	$828
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	3,360	110	3%	$16.17	$33,640	$94,200	$841
Waiters and Waitresses SOC 35-3031	5,180	1,700	49%	$16.65	$34,630	$97,885	$866
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131 · prior-year code differs	4,150	(4,880)	(54%)	$17.85	$37,120	$107,154	$928
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	3,710	(1,230)	(25%)	$19.09	$39,710	$116,795	$993
Tellers SOC 43-3071	420	(500)	(54%)	$20.42	$42,470	$127,068	$1,062
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	2,320	1,600	222%	$21.22	$44,140	$133,285	$1,104
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	1,130	240	27%	$21.52	$44,760	$135,592	$1,119
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	2,950	(70)	(2%)	$21.91	$45,570	$138,607	$1,139
Paramedics SOC 29-2043 · prior-year code differs	680	(10)	(1%)	$23.94	$49,790	$154,316	$1,245
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	1,760	120	7%	$24.76	$51,490	$160,644	$1,287
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	3,210	(570)	(15%)	—	$52,980	$166,190	$1,325
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	490	(40)	(8%)	$25.88	$53,840	$169,391	$1,346
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	3,840	(430)	(10%)	$26.15	$54,390	$171,439	$1,360
Electricians SOC 47-2111	1,110	550	98%	$26.41	$54,930	$173,449	$1,373
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	4,760	(730)	(13%)	$39.87	$82,930	$277,674	$2,073

Affordable home price uses the same Section 3 formula (30% housing budget, 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr T&I, 0.5% PMI). Affordable rent is 30% of monthly wages. Negative job-change values are shown in red parentheses. A "prior-year code differs" note flags occupations whose SOC code changed between the two vintages (2010 SOC → 2018 SOC) — the change estimate is best-effort.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (10-year change vs. May 2015). Jobs counts and wages reflect the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county, not the county alone — OEWS is not published at the county level.

Methodology & sources

All figures derive from the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. State and national comparisons are population-weighted aggregates of county-level estimates (an approximation; ACS publishes its own state and national medians which can differ slightly).

The affordability calculator uses a 30% housing-budget rule with a 30-year mortgage. Defaults are 7% interest, 5% down, $2,500/year taxes and insurance, and 0.5% PMI — adjustable above.

Variables: 37171 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.